Perspective – The Best Mother’s Day Gift

It is not often that I am stunned silent. But this is what happened after my nine-year-old son looked into my eyes and awed me with his response to the news that I would not be moving my home-based daycare to a new location like we previously thought.

I expected him to be upset because the kids were looking forward to reclaiming our basement. I was worried that I had disappointed him.

Instead he said, “Really? But you worked so hard.”

Just a few words, but a response that left me speechless. I gazed into his eyes and realized how much he has grown. He isn’t a baby anymore. He notices so much and feels even more.

I stammered, “Thank you for saying that. Yes, I worked hard, but it doesn’t mean it won’t happen one day. I’m sorry it isn’t happening sooner. And thank you for saying that. I love you.”

He looked at me incredulously. He didn’t understand why I thanked him. He didn’t understand how much his acknowledgement of my hard work meant to me. He didn’t understand the impact of putting aside his own feelings and concentrating on mine. He didn’t know how deeply I needed this moment of compassion.

It was a gift and a reminder of how truly blessed I am to be a mother. How blessed I am to have four amazing children – each with special gifts.

But, today, it was the attention seeking / sometimes clown who took my breath away. His gift has always been his ability to feel. Sometimes his emotions get him trouble – because he is still learning to harness this super power. But, it IS just that — a super power with the ability to stop me in my tracks. A super power with the ability to heal. A super power rooted in love and empathy.

Sometimes it only takes a few words to snap you back into reality. I haven’t lost anything with this recent set-back. Instead, I am overflowing with more. More love, more light, and most importantly – more perspective.

Nicole Dash is a writer, blogger and business owner who lives in the suburbs outside Washington, DC with her husband and four children. She started her career as a journalist and copy editor. She also managed public relations and corporate communications for a national franchise company, but in 2006 started a child care business. In 2012, she launched Tiny Steps Mommy, a lifestyle and parenting blog that quickly gained a following and connected her to an expansive group of women-owned businesses. In 2013, she started a digital marketing consulting business that focused on growing community in an authentic way. Through those connections she was inspired to open Play, Work or Dash, a coworking space that also offers onsite childcare up to three hours per day. It is where like-minded professionals pursue their business goals with the extra level of support parents desire; a place where you "bring your kids to work." She is an active member of the Washington, DC blogger community. She has been published on The Washington Post, Huffington Post, Scary Mommy, Mamalode and Pop Sugar.

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His response speaks volumes about you as a person & Mother, and the wonderful example you are living for him. Children listen to & learn so much more from what we do than what we say. You should be proud of the hard work you’ve put in to help create a young man with a quality that so few seem to possess nowadays: UNSELFISH COMPASSION.
Keep up the good work Mommie!

Don’t you just love those moments that set it all in place… that perspective you talk about. Oh, how I love this!!Chris Carter recently posted…Dear Graduate…

Hello! Let Me Introduce Myself…

My name is Nicole Dash and I am a mother of four (two boys and two girls) living outside Washington, DC in Northern Virginia. Tiny Steps Mommy is my heartfelt blog about life, family and finding yourself amid the chaos.
I have always considered myself a writer. Even when I wasn’t producing a word, I knew in my heart that I was a writer. I … Click to Learn More